Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the 2026 French Open.
During Sinner’s opening match in Madrid, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from Roland Garros.
How worried are you about Carlos Alcaraz’s injury?
Carlos Alcaraz will miss Rome and Roland Garros…
Speaking to Spanish media on court after his three-set win over Benjamin Bonzi, Sinner offered his immediate reaction to the news.
Jannik Sinner says Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open withdrawal is ‘sad news’ and claims he wasn’t expecting it
“Just now?” Sinner asked when told that Alcaraz had withdrawn.
“That’s tough! That’s very tough.
“These kinds of injuries, I guess you have to go very, very slow, but it’s sad for tennis.
“Carlos, defending champion, and me, being a competitor, you always want to play against the best in the world, and he is definitely the best in the world here on this surface.
Carlos Alcaraz’s clay-court titles
- 2021 Croatia Open vs Jannik Sinner
- 2022 Rio Open vs Diego Schwartzman
- 2022 Barcelona Open vs Pablo Carreno Busta
- 2022 Madrid Open vs Alexander Zverev
- 2023 Argentina Open vs Cameron Norrie
- 2023 Barcelona Open vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2023 Madrid Open vs Jan-Lennard Struff
- 2024 French Open vs Alexander Zverev
- 2025 Monte Carlo Masters vs Lorenzo Musetti
- 2025 Italian Open vs Jannik Sinner
- 2025 French Open vs Jannik Sinner
“So, it’s sad news, I wish him to recover as fast as possible.
“Hopefully getting ready for Wimbledon, but it is very sad, and I was not expecting that, so it’s very fresh news.”
Alcaraz beat Sinner to win his first (2021 Croatia Open) and most recent (2025 French Open) clay-court titles.
With the Spaniard out of the way, Sinner will travel to Paris as the overwhelming favourite to win the title and complete his Career Grand Slam.
But Sinner will take no joy in seeing Alcaraz sidelined, having developed a strong friendship with his rival over recent years.
They have played 17 matches against each other, with Alcaraz leading their head-to-head, 10-7.
It remains to be seen when we will see the 18th instalment of their rivalry, but it certainly won’t happen on clay in 2026.
Can anyone stop Jannik Sinner from winning the French Open?
Sinner is now the French Open favourite, although that doesn’t mean he will have it easy in Paris.
Big names who have enjoyed success at Roland Garros over the years will fancy a shot at the title in Alcaraz’s absence.
Last 10 French Open finals
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 2025 | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner | 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz | Alexander Zverev | 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2023 | Novak Djokovic | Casper Ruud | 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 |
| 2022 | Rafael Nadal | Casper Ruud | 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 |
| 2021 | Novak Djokovic | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2020 | Rafael Nadal | Novak Djokovic | 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2019 | Rafael Nadal | Dominic Thiem | 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2018 | Rafael Nadal | Dominic Thiem | 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2017 | Rafael Nadal | Stan Wawrinka | 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic | Andy Murray | 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 |
Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Stan Wawrinka have all contested Roland Garros finals over the last decade, and are all set to compete this year.
It’s tough to make a case for Tsitsipas or Wawrinka winning the title, but the first three will be worth looking out for.
Djokovic is the biggest name, a three-time French Open champion, searching for his 25th Grand Slam.
Then, there’s Zverev who was a set away from winning the title in Paris two years ago.
It was Alcaraz who crushed his Grand Slam dream in 2024, and with the Spaniard missing this year, perhaps he will go one step further.
And while he hasn’t been in blistering form as of late, the two-time finalist Ruud shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Norwegian always seems to find his best tennis on the Parisian clay and if he’s placed on the opposite half of the draw to Sinner, don’t be surprised if he makes his way through to the final.
Only time will tell who will emerge victorious at the French Open, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 French Open begins on Sunday, May 24.
